In a dazzling display of sporting grandeur, the stage is set for the Ultimate Kho Kho (UKK) Season 2 Player Draft, where 275 players will vie for a spot in the coveted league. Taking place in Bhubaneswar on November 21, the event promises high stakes and intense competition as six franchisees gear up to spend a whopping ₹3.9 Crore on assembling their dream teams.
Having emerged as India’s third-largest non-cricketing league in terms of audience outreach during its inaugural season, UKK Season 2 is poised to take the indigenous sport to new heights. With the purse strings loosened, franchisees are armed with ₹3.90 Crore to secure a formidable lineup from a pool that includes athletes from 18 states, Kolhapur, Vidarbha, and Railways.
The battleground is diverse, with Maharashtra dominating the forefront with 18 players who clinched victory in the recent National Games held in Goa. The brainchild of Amit Burman in partnership with the Kho Kho Federation of India, UKK remains committed to reimagining the growth of indigenous sports with dynamism and engagement.
Each franchise, armed with a minimum of 20 and a maximum of 35 players, will navigate 35 draft rounds to shape their teams for the second edition. With 18 players retained by the teams, the remaining players are categorized as A, B, C, and D, with different price tags ranging from ₹5 lac to ₹1 lac. The draft sequence and purse capacity will dictate the fate of these aspiring Kho Kho superstars.
The 293 players in the pool are divided into ‘Power Players,’ ‘Pole Players,’ and ‘Dream Players.’ Defending champions Odisha Juggernauts, Chennai Quick Guns, Gujarat Giants, Mumbai Khiladis, Rajasthan Warriors, and Telugu Yoddhas have strategically retained key players, setting the stage for fierce competition.
The electrifying action from Season 2 will be broadcasted live on Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI)’s sports channels and livestreamed on Sony LIV, ensuring that fans don’t miss a moment of the thrilling journey as new Kho Kho legends emerge on the gaming field. Stay tuned for a spectacle that promises to redefine the esports landscape.
